Crown Victoria police cruisers being phased out by Southold PD

After patrolling Southold Town’s roads for nearly two decades, the ubiquitous Crown Victoria police car is about to be phased out of service by the Southold Town Police Department.

Starting this summer, residents will see a new police car on the roads, the sleeker, smaller Ford Police Interceptor sedan.

Crown Victoria cruisers at Town Beach in Southold. in May.(Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

“Ford stopped making the Crown Victoria, which was the old style of interceptor,” said Southold Captain Frank Kruszeski. “This is the new style so we’re switching over to these gradually.”

The new Interceptors are based off of a Ford Taurus model, and pack more horsepower than the Crown Vic, despite a smaller engine. The new cars also have all-wheel drive, which might make it easier for police officers to drive on snowy roads, Capt. Kruszeski said.

Still, the police department’s equipment is set up for Crown Victoria’s, meaning the department will have to purchase new gear for the updated cars. The department has meanwhile been able to “scour the country” and purchase leftover Crown Victorias to extend the life of their equipment, he said.

The newest car has arrived at police headquarters and will likely be put into use as a highway patrol car this summer, the captain said.

“The regular sector cars working Mattituck, Cutchogue, Southold? Those won’t go into service until sometime next year,” he said.